Foundation garment



Sept. 14, 1937. H. WIPPERMANY 2,092,900

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 2, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 V 759 I 5 l a 6 7 ATTORNEYS Sept. 14, 1937. I'P' E MA- 2,092,900

FOUNDATION GARMENT Filed June 2, 1956 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 6910547400 /7/PP/?/ %w ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 14, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNDATION GARMENT Application June 2, 1936, Serial No. 83,003

4 Claim.

This invention relates to foundation garments of the girdle, combination girdle-and-brassiere, or pantie girdle type, and is a continuation in part of my application Serial No. 24,228, filed May 31,

'5- 1935,-(Patent No. 2,046,861, issued July 7, 1936).

The principal object of the invention is to provide an exceptionally strong confining garment of the above character which combines maximum control with the least possible weight and bulk and furthermore provides a hitherto unobtainable degree of ventilation which insures perfect comfort and freedom of movement to the wearer even in the warmest summer weather.

Garments constructed according to my invention may be of the step-in type or they may have side openings provided with buttons, zippers or other fastening means according to common practice. An important feature of my garment resides in the construction of an elastic body portion 20 which is preferably made on a fine count machine using very strong kick elastic such as Power Lastex, and has elastic threads running only .in one direction but is capable of stretching simultaneously to a substantial extent both horizontally and vertically so as to conform to and confine the figure to a degree heretofore unattained by garments of this type.

The body portion of my garment comprises elastic threads running only in a transverse or horizontal direction and inelastic connecting threads which are wrapped around and interlaced with' the elastic threads in such a way that considerable vertical extensibility or stretch and contractive force results from the pull of the 35 inelastic threads upon the elastic threads running in the opposite direction. The special construction of this body portion, coupled with other structural features hereinafter described, results in a sheer film-like garment which adds little or no bulk to the figure while developing a confining strength equal to much heavier garments.

Foundation garments constructed of two-way stretch material should have certain advantages over one-way stretch garments in the matter of 45 fltand control of the figure, but, as heretofore constructed, such two-way stretch garments are objectionable from the standpoint of weight and bulk which cannot be reduced beyond a certain point without impairing the control function. In 50 addition, ordinary two-way stretch garments employ elastic threads running both horizontally and vertically and do not provide proper control or fit because each elastic thread is tied to a similar cross thread which stretches instead of holding tightly as it should do. My invention or may be composed of a plurality of connected avoids these disadvantages and provides a foundation garment. which has elastic threads running only in one direction but is capable of stretching simultaneously to a substantial extent in two directions while at the same time employing considerably less elastic thread than heretofore, thereby reducing the weight and bulk of the garment, improving the fit and control of the figure, and insuring an unusual degree of ventilation without sacrificing any of the advantages claimed for much heavier garments of this type.

These and other features and advantages of my invention will be described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of an all-elastic girdle embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of a girdle employing a double thickness of elastic material in the front for control purposes;

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 shows a garment having a superimposed control panel or lining of one-way stretch material;

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the control panel or lining of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4 but with the control panel inserted in the body portion of the garment instead of being superimposed thereon;

Fig. 7 is a horizontal section taken on line '|-l of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a magnified detail view of the elastic body portion of my garment, showing same in normal or contracted condition;

Fig". 9 is a similar view illustrating the forces .acting on the horizontal elastic threads when the fabric is stretched;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation showing a modified form of foundationgarment embodying the in vention;

Fig. 11 is a detail view showing the connection of the front panel to the interior of the garment of Fig. 10; and

Figs. 12 and 13 illustrate two types of pantie girdles constructed in accordance with the invention.

The foundation garment or girdle shown in Fig. 1 comprises an elastic body portion l which may be of seamless, substantially tubular form,

panels or sections as desired. The body portion l comprises a firm, exceptionally fine elastic net made on a fine count machine employing parallel elastic threads 2 of very strong kick elastic such as Power Lastex, suitably wrapped with fibrous strands 3 of silk, cotton or the like as shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The parallel elastic threads 2 run only in a transverse or horizontal direction in the garment when in normal wearing position, and these threads are connected in the fabric by fine inelastic threads 4 which are wrapped around and interlaced with the elastic threads 2 in such a way that considerable vertical kick or contractive force results from the pull of the elastic threads when they are distorted in a direction perpendicular to their length.

In the form shown in Figs. 8 and 9 the inelastic threads 4 are each wrapped around an elastic thread 2 for one or more turns and are then carried at right-angles onto the next adjacent elastic thread 2 as indicated by the connecting links 5 in Fig. 9, whereupon they are wrapped around said adjacent thread 2 having a like number of turns before jumping to the next succeeding elastic thread as before. To better illustrate the construction, the course of each inelastic thread 4 in the fabric may be likened to a series of steps wherein the connecting links 5 constitute the riser and the portions wrapped around the threads 2 constitute the tread. In the fabricating machine the carriers of the inelastic threads 4 follow this course to the edge of the fabric and then start back along a similar new course until the fabric is completed. As illustrated, the connecting links 5 each comprise two inelastic threads 4, one of which comes from the left and the other of which comes from the right as viewed in Figs. 8 and 9, from which it will be seen that the riser portions of each series of steps 4 meet and cross similar riser portions of other steps to form the doubled connecting links 5 in their normal course through the body portion of the garment.

If the connecting links 5 of inelastic threads 4 were allowed to assume a continuous vertical course from one elastic thread 2 to another, the garment would have little if any elasticity in such vertical direction. In the staggered construction illustrated, however, there is a gap between each connecting link. 5 and the adjacent link 5 in vertical alignment therewith; hence when the fabric is put under vertical tension as viewed in Figs. 8 and 9 it will display considerable vertical kick because the inelastic connecting links 5, though incapable of stretching themselves, will pull upon and distort the horizontal elastic threads 2 instead of pulling ineffectually upon one another. In its normal or unstretched condition the body portion of the'garment is honeycombed with tiny rectangular holes whose vertical sides are formed by adjacent links 5 and whose top and bottom edges are formed by the portions of the elastic threads 2 which lie between said links; but when the garment is put under vertical tension the elastic top and bottom edges of these squares are distorted by the pull of the links 5 which form thevertical sides of the next succeeding squares of the staggered vver-- tical series, thus changing the squares to a generally hexagonal shape as illustrated in Fig. 9 where the garment is under partial vertical tension.

In the all-elastic garment of Fig. l, as well as in all the other garments illustrated herein, the above-described elastic threads 2 run in a transverse or horizontal direction as indicated by the long arrows in the several views which also contain shorter arrows representing vertical extensibility. -In the form illustrated the elastic portion l is cut seamless and has its upper and lower edges turned inwardly to form hems 8 which are secured by saw-tooth stitches I, allowing the marginal edges to stretch without interference. Elastic garter loops 8 are stitched to the lower hem portion of the garment, preferably with the attached edges of the loops spaced apart as illustrated to distribute the strain on the garment, and the garters 9 are slidably mounted on said loops so as to be automatically adjustable in conformity with bending movements of the body. The garters are preferably secured to the fabric with a saw-tooth or zigzag stitch which is elastic like the fabric itself. This stitch also finishes the lower ends of the web used in the garters.

The extensibility as well as the kick of contractive force of the above-described garment may be varied as desired in the weaving operation. The garment illustrated in Fig. 1 is composed of extremely flne net having a contractive force which normally contracts the garment both horizontally and vertically to a size substantially smaller than the regions of thebody which it is intended to cover, and it gives the garment a crinkled or puckered appearance when of! the body. When the garment is worn, however, it stretches both vertically and horizontally and not only covers the proper regions of the body above and below the hips but conforms throughout to the contour of the figure, exerts a considerable confining force which molds the body and forms a perfectly smooth foundation for outer garments. When stretched on the body the garment of Fig. 1 has a texture comparable to light gauze. with a confining strength equal to much heavier garments. It is extremely thin and 'cool to wear and adds little or no bulk to the figure as other garments do. The weight of such a garment is usually no more than two or three ounces.

The garment shown in Figs. 2 and 3 is similar to that previously described except that it has a front panel In, composed of the same material as the body portion I, stitched to the inside of the body portion by vertical lines of stitching H. This double thickness of two-way stretch elastic material provides additional contractive force and results in a stiffening effect which further confines and flattens the abdomen of the wearer.

The garment illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 is similar to that shown in Fig. 2 except that the panel I2 superimposed upon the body portion l in the region of the abdomen is composed of any suitable one-way stretch elastic fabric arranged to stretch only in a vertical direction and incapable of stretching transversely or horizontally of the garment. In Figs. 6 and 7 a similar vertical stretch elastic panel I3 is inserted in the body portion and stitched to adjacent vertical edges thereof instead of being superimposed upon the two-way stretch body portion as in Figs. 4 and 5.

The garment illustrated in Figs. 10 and 11 is made ofsomewhat heavier net than the garments previously described, the horizontal elastic threads 2 being held in a normal or substantially normal contracted condition during the wrapping and weaving operation so that the horizontal and vertical extensibility of the garment is substantially less than in the garments previously described. This garment has an inelastic front panel or lining l4 stitched to the elastic body portion as best shown in Fig. 11.

This front panel may be lightly boned as with bones l5 concealed in tapes l6 which are stitched to the fabric of the panel as shown in Fig. 11.

This garment has a side opening I1 closed by hooks and eyes or other suitable fastening means piece I9 made of light net or other suitable material. The pantie girdle of Fig. 13 is similarly constructed except that it is provided with a front panel 20 which is arranged to stretch only in a vertical direction although it may be formed of inelastic material or a double thickness of the same material as the body portion if desired.

An important advantage of my improved garment in all the forms herein disclosed is that it is lighter and thinner, or closer to the nude, than previous garments of this type, yet it has the kick of a much heavier garment. The fact that the inelastic threads are actually wrapped around the elastic threads of the garment, instead of being looped as in a knitted structure, gives the garment a much better tie-in of the elastic threads than heretofore and prevents the elastic threads from being pulled out or the garment from being distorted. Another advantage is that the holes or open-mesh structure of the elastic body portion when stretched enables the garment to cling unusually well to the body and to move with the body as it bends.

It will be evident that various changes may be made in the details of construction herein shown and described without departing from the spirit of my invention which is to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims when interpreted in view of the prior art.

The invention claimed is:

1. A foundation garment for women having considerable elasticity and contractive force in a horizontal direction and extensibility in a vertical direction, comprising a body portion having elastic threads running only in a horizontal direction when in normal wearing position and inelastic connecting threads wrapped around said elastic threads and extending from one to another in staggered relation whereby to pull directly on said elastic threads and give the garment considerable vertical extensibility and contractive force upon the application of vertical tension.

2. A foundation garment for women having considerable elasticity and contractive force in a horizontal direction and extensibility in a vertical direction, comprising a body portion having elastic threads running only in a horizontal direction when in normal wearing position and inelastic connecting threads wrapped around said elastic threads and extending from one to another in staggered relation whereby to pull directly on said elastic threads and give the garment considerable vertical extensibility and contractive force upon the application of vertical tension, said elastic threads and inelastic connecting threads forming when stretched an open porous structure containing a multiplicity of perforations of generally hexagonal shape.

3. A foundation garment for women having considerable elasticity and contractive force in a horizontal direction and extensibility in a vertical direction, comprising a body portion having elastic threads running only in a horizontal direction when in normal wearing position and inelastic connecting threads wrapped around said elastic threads and extending from one to another in staggered relation whereby topuil directly on said elastic threads and give the garment considerable vertical extensibility and contractive force upon the application of vertical tension, and a panel composed of the same material as said body portion superimposed upon said body portion at the front of the garment in position to cover the region of the abdomen.

4. A foundation garment for women comprising an elastic body portion having considerable elasticity and contractive force in a horizontal direction and extensibility in a vertical direction, anda stifiening panel secured thereto in position to cover the region of the abdomen, said stiifening pane] being incapable of stretching transversely of the garment, said body portion being composed of elastic threads running only in a horizontal direction when in normal wearing position and inelastic connecting threads wrapped around said elastic threads and extending from one to another in staggered relation whereby to pull directly on said elastic threads and give the garment considerable vertical extensibility and contractive force upon the application of vertical tension so as to conform to and confine the figure throughout and tension s'aid panel firmly across the front of the body.

I-HLDEGARD WIPPERMAN. 

